Permutation-locked receptacle



E. Wl BARNES AND E. C. ALLEN. PERMUTATION LOCKED RECEPTACLE. APPLICATION rlL En'1AN.29. 1917.

1 ,358,672. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

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FREDERICK W. BARNES AND ERNEST C. ALLE-N, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNORS TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A.

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PERMUTATION-LOCKED RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application led January 29, 1917. Serial No. 145,214.

To @ZZ 'whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known' that we, FREoERIoK W. Benzine' and ERNEST C. ALLEN, citizensof 'the United States of America, and residing in Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutad tion-Locked Receptacles; and we do hereby declare the :following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

s( )ur invention relates to permutation locks and more particularly to a receptacle having a closure secured thereto by a permutation lock. lt has for an object the provision ot a neatly appearing, simply constructed, easily assembled and inexpensiveJ receptacle Yfor carrying coin or other articles, and an effective type of permutation lock concealed from view within the receptacle to prevent it beingreadily tampered with, and. which comprises such simplicity of design and such a small number of parts that friction and difliculty of operation is minimized andV it is very easy to open the receptacle, if the combination is given. 1With this and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter from the following disclosure, our invention consists in the combination of parts described in the specification and covered by the claims annexed hereto.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication in which like characters designateV like parts, and in which:

Figure 'l is a vertical elevation partly in section of our receptacle with the cap sepau rated therefrom.

F ig. 2 is a vertical elevation with the cap in place.

Fig. 3 is a section of the cap on the line B-B of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a tumbler ring.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a locking ring fixed to the receptacle.

Fig. 6 is a plan of a washer separating two tumbler rings.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the top retaining washer, the other washers being similarly made, although narrower.

Fig. 8 is a section of the cap on the line .Amri of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings we have shown a specilic embodiment of our invention, involving a receptacle constituting a coin bank having a rotatable cap or cover adapted to be telescopically associated with and fastened thereto by means of our special type of permutation lock, which is concealed from View withinthe cap and operable by rotation of the latter, although it is obvious that this type of lock can beapplied to other types of receptacle and utilized for other purposes within the scope of our invention. As illustrated, the receptacle may comprise a cylindrical casing 1 of suitable material carrying a cap 2 telescoping over the open end of the receptacle. A plurality of annular tumbler` rings 3, separated by spacing members or washers 4:, are revolubly located preferably on the upper end of the receptacle in such a position as to be concealedwithin the cap when the latter is locked in place, although it is clear that they may be carried by either the cap or the receptacle. These rings and washers are held between a laterally extending flange 5 on the upper end of the receptacle and a iiXed collar 6, the flange 5 being preferably flush with the outer surfaces `of the tumblers and washers. The tumbler rings 3, of which there are three in number in the form illustrated, carry lugs 7, Sand 9 projecting above the otherwise smooth surfaces of the rings and preferably in the specific embodiment ofmy invention, a second series of lugs 10, l1 and 12, each of the latter series being diametrically opposite the other lug on its carrying ring. Fixed to" the collar 6 in a non-rotative relation tothe receptacle yis a further member' L-shaped in cross section (see Figs. 1 and 5) comprising a laterally extending ring 13 engaging collar 6 and an upwardly extending flange 14 spaced from said collar 6 to allow insertion of the'lower edge of the cap'2. when the tumbler rings are properly positioned, into the groove formed thereby to conceal said lower edge of the cap. The fixed member 14 is provided with inwardly projecting lugs V 15 and 16 suitably spaced apart to form an additional locking means.

The lugs 7, 8, 9, 10, l1 and 12, on the tumbler rings are adapted to cooperate with rings or annular shoulders on the inside of Yio oic tumbler lug-'s the removal of the cap may be prevented oy the .engagement of the tumbler Vlugs andthe annular 'shoulders 17. The lugs and 16 `on the ring 14 similarly ride within a groove 18 on the outside oli the cap and engage the outwardly extending annular shoulder 19, to aid in preventing removalof the cap,

` In order. that the .cap may be removed or placed in position for locking, it is necestioned in alinement `with the lug 16, the otherlugs onthe rings being also in alinement. `gTlien, it the proper channels in the'` cap are opposite the right set ot lugs,rthe1 saryto provide grooves or channels 2O and 2l whereby the lugs on the tumblers may be withdrawntrom between the shoulders 1T. T o accomplish this, we cut away portions transversely oit the shoulders 17, as illustrated in Figs. c1, 3 and 8, in alinement with each Vother to form such channels, so that when the lugs on the tumbler rings are in alinementthey may be withdrawn through these ,out away portions. Similarly a portion iscut' out at 22 to allow withdrawal oi the lug 15, whiehin thisl form of device is not .positioned diametrically opposite the lug 16. The latter lug 16 is withdrawable through the slot through which one series of lugs on the tumblerrings is withdrawn. It will accordingly be seen that to remove the lcap or put iton, it is necessary that one ser-ies of lugs on the tumbler rings be posicap may be withdrawn or put in place.

lNhen the cap .is in place and the tumbler rings have been so rotated that'the lugs noty in alinement, means must be provided for moving or setting the tumbler rings into4 the unlocked 'positiomp since these are con-. j cealed beneathv thecap'and a-.re not directly: manually operable. .1T o accomplish 'this' purpose, we provide :on the'inside of the cap. in the grooves -between the retaining shoul-- ders 1:7 certain operating lugs 23, `2Lland 25 I on one side of the lchannel 21, and 26, and 221' on the other side. `These operatinglugs arel each of. such size and so positioned as to be adapted to vengagel the locking lugs on the tumblerrings. Vihen. the cap 'isi rotated back and forth relative' tofthe casing to certain` predetermined positions, the operating lugs engage theloclring lugs and suc cessivelyfmovethe latter to their positions.

lthrough the entrance opening.

Of alinement, permitting removal of the cap.

this construction, we proyide aseparate yoperating means for each tumbler ring,

rring and the'liorce acting on the last ring is applied through all'the remainingrings in ther 'sei-ies.' Furthermore, by havingeach tumbler ring operated by a separate lug and all the operating lugs carried and moved by the cap, the design is made 'extremely simple and economical of manufacture and assemblage, and no complicated parts liable to get out" of order are interposed between the manually operated part and the tumbler. The tumbler lugs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 perform the double function of interlocking with shoulders 1'? and (3o-acting with luft 23, 24: and 25 on the cap during the setting of the tumblers.

In order to concealthe channels 2O and 21, which in the structure illustrated, are formed by cutting entirely through theinaterial oi' the cap where the shoulders project, Awe preferably provide a covering 29 thereover. This covering 29, which may be of paper orgsiniilar material, gives the cap a smooth outward "appearance, and at the same time conceals the outside ot the stamped grooves forming the inner projecting shoulder 17 and hiding the position ciE the operating lu stamped in the cap. 'lhis covering 29 readily receives the numerals' shown in Fig. 2 for indicating the combinasuch position as to thrust the coin upwardly onceit has been inserted through the slot,

where itk cannot again be withdrawn venience in determining the amount of coin in the bank, 4observation openings 82 are provided iii the exterior,thei'eor.`

ln the specific form illustrated, thee-oinbination is such that when the cap is rotated at least one,completerevolution'in the direction of the ascending numerals, as illus-A tratedin Fig. 2,-ielativetolthe lined pointer 28 and stopped at numeral 1li, then rotated in a reversed direction to the numeral 34, thenforwardly to numeral 6 and then back to numeral 4l, the operating lugs within the cap engage ,the tumbler rings and .move them all at first and then successively positionV them independently of each other, where the locking lugs thereon are in alinement with locking lug 16 andin line with channel 21 Jormed by the cut away portions oi? shoulder 17 within the cap, .whereupon the cap be removed.v To put the cap'on andy loch ythetreceptacle,it is necessary to For conhave the lugs in the same position as when the cap is removed and the pointer 28 opposite numeral l on the cap.

By this construction we have provided a simplified form of permutation lock in which the locking tumbler rings are concealed from view and each is rotated independently of and without engaging its lcompanion rings by a single rotative member having a plurality of independent means associated therewith for acting separately on the tumblers, Each oi the lugs on the tumbler rings is actuated by its own individual operating means on the Moreover during the successive movements oi' the cap when the tumblers are being brought into unlocking position, the cap and its actua ting lugs move in the same operative plane, no ai-rial movement of the cap orV actuating means being necessary to manipulate the tumblers. ln this type oiilock itis Anecessary to have but a single series or" indicating` numerals, tiereby avoiding considerable confusion in operating the mechanism..

Furthermore, in the construction ofla small coin bank it is possible to stamp out most of the parts from metal blanks, it being especially noticeable that the cap formed ot' a single piece, involves not only the closure for the receptacle, but also a series of retaining rings or shoulders cooperating with the lugs on the tumbler rings and operating means for rotating` the tumblers. Similarly the tumbler rings, their spacing washers and the retaining ring 6 and the fixed ring 14 may be stamped out in a simple fashion and slid into position, in the construction illustrated, over the body oi' the receptacle, thereby making assemblage of the device simple and quite economical.

It is furthermore to be noted that the covering 29, bearing the scale or series of designating characters, may be adjusted to any desired position on the cap, so that the combination of the lock may be changed. ln the construction herein described, the paper covering 29 may be removed and replaced in a new position, and il desired sealed in place by any suitable adhesive, although it is obvious that various means for adjusting this covering 29 or fastening it in place may be adopted. lf the covering is shifted relative to the operating lugs within the cap so that, when the tumbler rings are in alinement and the cap is removable, the pointer 28 constituting an index mark is opposite the numeral 2 instead of 4 as described above, then the new combination will vary by two points from the old one in each of its combination numbers. It, therefore, is within the scope of our invention to provide a member carrying a portion of the coordinated designating marks of a scale and index, which may be adjusted in position relative to the cap and its operating means for moving the tumbler rings, so as to give different combinations for the lock.

Tkl tl s l "bel r inv Antion i aving iu eescri c ou c what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln combination with a receptacle having body rotatably associated with a removable cap, tumbler rings provided with lugs and movably supported on one of said parts and shoulders on the other of said parts adapted to engage said lugs and lock the parts together, said part having the shoulders also being provided with a lug for each tumbler ring adapted when rotated to movey into engagement with the tumbler ring lug and rotate the ring to a desired position.

2. The combination with a receptacle having a removable cap therefor, of locking means adapted to hold said parts together, comprising a plurality of tumblers rotatively mounted on said receptacle and constituting one element of the lock, means in the cap to engage said rings and form the complementary element of said lock and a plurality of separate means associated with said cap and simultaneously moved thereby to operate, said tumblers independently oi'- one another, and to move them to an unlocking position.

3. ln a receptacle the combination of two relatively revoluble, telescoping, detachably associated box members, a plurality of tumbler rings carried by one member, rotatable independently oi one another, a locking lug en each ot' said rings, shoulders on the other member, each adapted to engage a lug on a ring to retain the box members in looked relation, and operating lugs adjacent said shoulders adapted to be moved into engagement with said tumbler lugsy to move the rings into unlocking position, said shoulders terminating at points in longitudinal alineinent to form a passageway permitting removal of the tumbler lugs past said shoulders when alined opposite said passageway.

4l. ln combination with a receptacle, a removable, rotatable, telescoping cap therefor, tumbler rings carried on said receptacle and concealed beneath said cap, a lug on each of said rings, annular shoulders within said cap normally engaging said lugs to look the cap on the receptacle, said shoulders having` a passageway therethrough, and operating lugs between said shoulders on the cap adapted to rotate said rings independently of one another to bring said tumbler lugs into alinement for removal through said passageway.

5. In a receptacle comprising a body and a telescoping cap rotatably associated therewith, tumbler rings rotatably carried on said body beneath said cap, each ot said rings having a lug thereon, locking shoulders within said cap adapted to be engaged by i said lugs to hold the cap in place, said shoulders having a groove transversely out therethrough to permit passage ot said lugs, and lugs on said cap between said shoulders adapted to engage the lugs on the rings and vrotate the latter upon turning movement oit' the ca p whereby the tumbler lugs may be alined for removal through said groove.

6. ln a receptacle comprising a body and a telescoping cap rotatably associated therewith, tumbler rings rotatably carried on said body beneath said cap? each of said rings having a lug thereon7 inner locking shoulders within the cap adapted to be engaged by said lugs to hold the cap in place, a iixed lug on the body coperating with an outer shoulder on the cap serving as an auxiliary looking means, a groove cutting said inner shoulder transversely through which ,the tumbler lugs may be removed when in alinement, a groove through said outer shoulder so located that, when the cap and tumbler rings are correctly positioned for removal o the inner lugs through the groove in the cap, said fixed lug may slide through `he groove in the outer shoulder on the-cap and lugs within said cap between the inner shoulders adapted to engage the tumbler lugs and rotate the latter when the cap is turned.

7. In combination with a receptacle havingan index mark thereon, a plurality oll tumbler rings rotatablyv carried by said receptacle, a rotatable cap for the receptacle overtsaid rings, means associated with said cap adapted to cooperate with the rings to lock the* cap on the receptacle, operating lugs vvithin the cap adapted to engage said rings and rotate them to an unlocking position upon turning the cap and a scale member bearing a series of designating characters, adjustably located on said cap, whereby the combination ot the lock may be changed by shittingv thev location of said scale member i relative to said cap and index mark on the receptacle.

S. A permutation lock Vcomprising two parts to be locked together, a plurality of tumblers carried by one part, each tumbler including a looking element, devices on the other part for interlocking with said elements., and means on said other part for setting said tumblers by movably engaging said elements. whereby said elements function doubly in locking and setting.

9. A permutation lock comprising two partsto be locked together, a plurality of independent tumbler rings carried by one part, each ring including a lug, shoulders on Vthe other part for interlocking with said lugsj and operating lugs on said other mem ber tor setting said tumbler rings by movably engaging said tumbler lugs, whereby said tumbler lugs function doubly in lockand setting.

ln testimony whereof, we have signed this specification in thepresence ot two witnesses this 26 day of January7 1917, at Rochester, N. Y.

FREDERICK W. BARNES. ERNEST C. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE T. BURRELL, E. MEYER. 

